Halacha

Halacha literature developed directly from the gemara. Right from the start, it only sought to explain and simplify the halachos that were already decided in the gemara. Naturally, it achieved this goal not by launching an original inquiry, but by tracing the vicissitudes through which the gemara reached its psak - its halachic decision. This tendency (in addition to later decisions on contemporary topics, amalgamated in time to the halachic corpus) made halachic literature branch out and develop into a rich field, itself requiring careful scrutiny. ###

Oz Vehadar's halacha department answers the two basic needs faced by every student of halacha. First of all, it's user-friendly: the books are clear and pleasant to behold, and error-free. To achieve this, the editors at Oz Vehadar applied to the halachic literature the same systematic, sophisticated methods used to produce the Oz Vehadar Talmud Bavli. With the same energy and zealous enthusiasm with which Jews eliminate chomets on erev Pesach, the same uncompromising battle, Oz Vehadar's editors waged and continue to wage war against every infinitesimal crumb of error and imprecision. The fruit of their work can be enjoyed in the halacha department: clear and correct works, visually stunning, embedded with tens of thousands of corrections and references, like precious gems.

The second burning need of the student of halacha is to be able to delve deep into the halachic discussion, so as to know the final, paskened halacha with all its nuances, and understand its point of origin and evolution. This need, too, was treated by Oz Vehadar's editors as a primary objective. Hence, new compositions were created for some of the departments, pointing the learner to the required halachic discussions. In addition, of course, to the myriads of references, wrapping and linking every single thread in the huge halachic woof...

Oz Vehadar's halacha department has republished the mishna brura in new editions, bound to improve immensely the quality of study. Likewise, it has published the following series: the Mefarshim of the Rambam's Yad HaChazaka, the Elucidated Shulchan Aruch, and the Elucidated Mishna Brura. Other offerings, as well, will prove an invaluable contribution to the Jewish library of our generation, amongst which may be noted the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, the Aruch HaShulchan - the new edition of which should help return this work to its rightful place at the center of the contemporary halachic discussion - and more.

;

Halacha literature developed directly from the gemara. Right from the start, it only sought to explain and simplify the halachos that were already decided in the gemara. Naturally, it achieved this goal not by launching an original inquiry, but by tracing the vicissitudes through which the gemara reached its psak - its halachic decision. This tendency (in addition to later decisions on contemporary topics, amalgamated in time to the halachic corpus) made halachic literature branch out and develop into a rich field, itself requiring careful scrutiny.
read more